Carved Turquoise Beads
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Quartz, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Agate, Onyx, Sterling Silver
2010s Italian Artist Beaded Necklaces
Amber, Carnelian, Jade, Natural Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Asian Beaded Necklaces
20th Century Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Rock Crystal, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Art Deco Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Onyx, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century American Artisan Multi-Strand Necklaces
Vintage 1980s Modern Dangle Earrings
Amethyst, Jade, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Tibetan Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Turquoise, Silver Plate, Sterling Silver, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Fashion Rings
Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Thai Art Deco Fashion Rings
Blue Sapphire, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Modernist More Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary American Egyptian Revival Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Croatian Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Turquoise
2010s American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Turquoise, Ruby
2010s Indian Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Onyx, Turquoise, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Australian Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Aquamarine, Jade, Moonstone, Pearl, Topaz, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, ...
21st Century and Contemporary American Native American Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Other, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s Swiss Contemporary Drop Earrings
Brown Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
2010s American Artist Link Necklaces
Chalcedony, Chrysophrase, Citrine, Crystal, Multi-gemstone, Cultured Pea...
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Amber, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Opal, Sterling Silver
2010s Australian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver, Rhodium
Antique Late 19th Century Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Amber, Sterling Silver
2010s American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Turquoise, Silver, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Bangles
Coral, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Retro Link Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Drop Earrings
Turquoise, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Italian Modern Dangle Earrings
Silver Plate
Early 2000s Italian Modern Dangle Earrings
Early 2000s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
Early 2000s American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise Matrix, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Chinese Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise
Vintage 1950s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise
20th Century French Beaded Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Tibetan Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Carnelian, Jade, Malachite, Turquoise, Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Agate, Onyx, Turquoise, Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Dangle Earrings
Coral, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Choker Necklaces
1990s Chinese Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Choker Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s American Artisan Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Zircon, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Diamond, Rock Crystal, Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1990s Modern Beaded Necklaces
Crystal, Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Turquoise, Gold-filled, Yellow Gold
American Beaded Necklaces
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
American Beaded Necklaces
French Cocktail Rings
Diamond
20th Century American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Quartz, Jade, Cultured Pearl, Opal, Diamond, Moonstone, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Turquoise, Pearl, Vermeil
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Chrysophrase, Freshwater Pearl, Tiger s Eye, Pearl, Vermeil
2010s Australian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Agate, Jade, Onyx, Turquoise, Turquoise Matrix, Gold-filled, Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold-filled, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s Australian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
2010s Australian Modern Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Multi-gemstone, Freshwater Pearl, Natural Pearl, Turquoise...
2010s Australian Modernist Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Onyx, Turquoise, Rhodium, Sterling Silver, Brass
2010s American Modern Beaded Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, South Sea Pearl, Turquoise, 18k Gol...
20th Century Modern Dangle Earrings
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Modern Beaded Necklaces
Jade, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Jade
Antique 1890s Italian Late Victorian Dangle Earrings
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Turquoise, Jasper, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
2010s European Modern Beaded Necklaces
Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Fire Opal, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Jade, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century American Contemporary Beaded Necklaces
Jade, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Pendant Necklaces
Vintage 1950s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Coral, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s American Native American Beaded Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Asian Beaded Necklaces
Jade, Gold, 10k Gold
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Retro Beaded Necklaces
Jade, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Carved Turquoise Beads For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Carved Turquoise Beads?
The Legacy of Turquoise in Jewelry Design
The thought of vintage and antique turquoise jewelry often conjures up images of striking Navajo bracelets and necklaces worn with a denim shirt and cowboy boots. This all-American look has been celebrated by fashion designers like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger on their runways and in ad campaigns. In the October 2016 issue of Vogue magazine, Tom Ford said he only wears turquoise jewelry at his Santa Fe ranch. So what is it about this gorgeous blue-green stone that makes us wish that we were born in December?
It’s not surprising that turquoise is abundant in New Mexico and Arizona because, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), it needs to be in “dry and barren regions where acidic, copper-rich groundwater seeps downward and reacts with minerals that contain phosphorus and aluminum.
Turquoise is not found in a single crystal but is a combination of microcrystals. Its appearance, waxy and opaque, is attributed to its structure and composition. “It’s an aggregate of microscopic crystals that form a solid mass. If the crystals are packed closely together, the material is less porous, so it has a finer texture. Fine-textured turquoise has an attractive, waxy luster when it’s polished. Turquoise with a less-dense crystal structure has higher porosity and coarser texture, resulting in a dull luster when it’s polished,” notes the GIA. Since no one wants to set a dull piece of turquoise, porous turquoise is often treated to make the stone more attractive.
In the United States, there have been discoveries of turquoise from 200 B.C. It is not just loose turquoise stones that have been found, but entire suites of jewelry from prehistoric times. In the late 19th-century, the Navajo Indians, who learned silversmithing from the Spanish, started to make beads out of turquoise and eventually combined it with silver around the 1880s. Initially this jewelry was for ceremonial purposes, but it became fashionable once the tourism in the Southwest picked up in the beginning of the 20th century.
Find antique and vintage turquoise rings, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right Necklaces for You
We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners. Today, Van Cleef necklaces, Tiffany necklaces and Cartier necklaces are some of the most popularly searched designer necklaces on 1stDibs.
Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers.
In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs.
For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone.
Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage David Webb necklaces — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt.
On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Dior, Chanel and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.
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